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The next morning, the sky was overcast, and a heavy smell of gunpowder hung in the air over Wan Cheng, making it hard to breathe. Zhu Jun stood on high ground, commanding the troops to withdraw from the southeastern front, feigning a retreat. His gaze remained fixed on the city walls, taking in all the movements within.
"Xuan De, the success or failure of this plan is crucial to our overall strategy. If Han Zhong truly escapes, it will be our moment of crisis," Zhu Jun said, turning to Liu Bei with a serious tone.
Liu Bei clasped his hands and replied, "Rest assured, General. Xuan De has ordered his subordinates to prepare an ambush; Han Zhong will have no way out."
Guan Yu stood nearby, gripping his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, and added in a deep voice, "If Han Zhong dares to abandon the city and flee, Yun Chung will surely take his head to ease the suffering of the people."
Zhang Fei rubbed his fists together, holding his Eighteen-Feet Serpent Spear, and grinned fiercely, "Let’s see if that scoundrel dares to run! The moment he steps out of the city, Zhang Fei will make sure to take his head!"
Zhu Jun nodded and waved his hand, ordering the entire army to intensify their assault on the northwest direction, creating an impression of a strong offensive. Cannonballs whistled through the air, crashing against the city walls and shaking the entire fortress as if it were trembling. Dust flew up as sections of the wall crumbled. Han Zhong stood atop the battlements, feeling a surge of panic as he witnessed the fierce attack on the northwest corner.
"General, the enemy has retreated from the southeastern front! Is there another ambush?" his deputy reported anxiously.
Han Zhong furrowed his brow, his gaze darting around as he wrestled with his thoughts. Gritting his teeth, he muttered, "The Imperial Army's offensive is fierce; their withdrawal from the southeast is a ruse. They merely want to lure me into a trap here. If we don’t retreat soon, our supplies will run out and our soldiers will be exhausted. How much longer can we hold out?"
"But General," the deputy cautioned quietly, "if this is a tactic to lure us..."
"Shut up!" Han Zhong shouted angrily, determination etched on his face. "At this point, staying in the city is just waiting for death! All troops out of the city—fight our way through!"
No longer hesitating, Han Zhong immediately led the remnants of his army to push open the city gates and flee towards the southeast. The soldiers surged out like a torrent of water; however, they had barely gone far when they heard horns sounding from both sides. The ambush was launched as Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei's forces simultaneously encircled them with spears like a forest and banners blocking out the sun amidst cries for blood.
"Han Zhong, come meet your end!" Zhang Fei roared as he charged ahead on horseback, aiming his Eighteen-Feet Serpent Spear directly at Han Zhong. Shocked and furious, Han Zhong hurriedly raised his weapon to block it; however, Zhang Fei's spear struck down with such force that it knocked Han Zhong's weapon from his grasp.
"I will assist you!" Guan Yu charged in from the right, the Green Dragon Crescent Blade gleaming with a cold light as it aimed directly for Han Zhong's neck. Han Zhong shouted and rolled aside just in time, but an arrow suddenly pierced through the air, striking him squarely in the chest. He let out a cry of anguish and fell from his horse, blood spraying onto the ground.
Liu Bei lowered his bow, his expression grim as he fixed his gaze on the fallen Han Zhong. "Han Zhong, the rebels defy heaven and will ultimately not escape the sword of justice."
Han Zhong struggled on the ground, and seeing their commander dead, the Yellow Turban Soldiers behind him instantly lost morale. Some knelt in surrender while others dropped their weapons and fled in all directions. Zhang Fei turned to Guan Yu, spear in hand, laughing heartily. "These bandits are truly a rabble! Brother, Yun Chung, we have won!"
Liu Bei maintained a steady gaze and pointed his sword forward. "Do not relax; continue the pursuit! We must eradicate the remaining scum to ensure peace for the people!"
As dusk fell, the setting sun bathed the land in a bloody hue. Outside Wan Cheng, the Imperial Army was desperately chasing down the remnants of the Yellow Turbans. Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei led the charge, eager to eliminate every last enemy when suddenly, dust rose in the northwest accompanied by a deafening sound of drums and battle cries.
"Report!" A scout rushed in from afar, panic etched on his face. "General, a large number of Yellow Turban Rebels are approaching from the northwest! Leading them are Zhao Hong and Sun Zhong! Their forces are immense and fierce; Wan Cheng has already been recaptured!"
Zhu Jun, stationed at the center of the army, turned pale upon hearing this news. His gaze sharpened like a sword as it swept toward the northwest. "Damnable thieves! How dare they seize our city!"
At that moment, in the distance, the Yellow Turban Army had already closed in. Zhao Hong personally took to the field clad in tattered armor, wielding a long knife as he angrily directed his troops to reform their ranks. Sun Zhong followed closely behind, commanding the infantry to spread out into a killing formation that pressed toward the Imperial Army. Seeing the strength of their enemies grow, Zhu Jun decisively raised his hand and shouted, "All troops retreat temporarily! Set up camp ten miles from the city and rest before we fight again!"
As night fell, within the Imperial Army's camp, bonfires blazed brightly while soldiers wore expressions of exhaustion and tension. Zhu Jun stood inside his tent with a furrowed brow, his eyes glinting with frustration. He slammed his hand on the table and exclaimed, "The remnants of the Yellow Turbans dare to rebel again and have even recaptured Wan Cheng! If we do not act swiftly to suppress them, how can we ensure peace across the land?"
Liu Bei stepped forward with cupped hands, his tone steady yet resolute. "General, at present, the Bandit Army is advancing fiercely. Our troops have fought hard for days and are weary; if we attack recklessly now, we risk losing more men. We should prioritize stability."
Guan Yu added solemnly, "What my brother says is reasonable. Zhao Hong is adept at utilizing forces; attacking rashly would be akin to striking a stone with an egg. Our army should wait for an opportunity to act—exhaust their strength before striking decisively."
However, Zhang Fei was indignant as he slammed his palm on the table. "No more hesitation! Whatever number of bandits come our way, I Zhang Fei will slay them all! Give me a team of men; I will teach them what true might is!"
Zhu Jun saw Zhang Fei's impatience and waved his hand to stop him. "Yi De, calm down! This battle cannot be decided by mere brute force."
Just then, the sound of urgent horse hooves came from outside the tent. Moments later, a scout burst into the military tent, kneeling with an excited expression. "Reporting to the general! A group of reinforcements has arrived from the east, bearing the banner with the character 'Sun.' They are approaching rapidly, seemingly here to assist us!"
Zhu Jun was slightly taken aback, then showed a hint of confusion. "The Sun family? Could it be Sun Jian from Jiangdong?"
At that moment, a powerful voice rang out from outside. "Sun Wentai has come to lend support! Where is General Zhu?"
Everyone quickly exited the military tent. In the flickering light of the campfire, a well-organized group of soldiers stood in formation, their horse hooves echoing heavily amidst the clanking of steel. At the forefront was a tall man clad in light armor, with a broad forehead and a strong presence that exuded both determination and authority. He dismounted swiftly and walked up to Zhu Jun, clasping his fists in salute. "I am Sun Jian from Fuchun of Wu Commandery. Seeing the Yellow Turbans causing chaos, I gathered young men and brave merchants from my hometown to come to your aid!"
Zhu Jun was delighted at this imposing figure and his spirited words. He stepped forward and grasped Sun Jian's hand warmly. "General Wentai, I have heard much about you. To finally meet you today is indeed a pleasure! Your arrival with troops is truly a blessing from heaven!"
Sun Jian laughed heartily, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. "General Zhu is too kind. The Yellow Turbans are wreaking havoc across the land. Although I hail from Jiangdong, all common people are my responsibility; how could I stand by idly? I heard that you were forced back by Bandit Troops and rushed here with fifteen hundred elite troops to assist in battle. What can I do for you?"
Liu Bei stepped forward and cupped his hands in respect. "General Sun, your remarkable spirit and formidable troops are indeed a blessing for the Imperial Army. I have heard that Zhao Hong has recaptured Wan Cheng. If we can join forces with you in this battle, we will surely defeat the Bandit Army and stabilize the hearts of the people!"
Sun Jian nodded slightly, his eyes sharp as arrows. "Zhao Hong is merely a cornered wolf. Tomorrow, let us split into two routes to launch a pincer attack; we will surely take Wan Cheng!"
Zhu Jun clapped his hands and laughed heartily. "With General Wentai's assistance, how can we fear that the Bandits will not be defeated? All generals, heed my orders: tomorrow we shall immediately prepare our troops and attack the city with full force!"
The campfire cast a red glow on the faces of the generals, and amidst the flickering shadows, the morale of the Imperial Army reignited once more; tomorrow's decisive battle was already an inevitable reality.
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